Auto-Tune for all? Antares debuts affordable version

Credit-crunched Kanye West wannabes will love it

Antares has released a more affordable version of Auto-Tune known as Auto-Tune EFX.

This takes some of the key features of the latest version of the software – Auto-Tune Evo – and puts them in a simpler interface. It offers two modes of operation: Pitch Correction and Vocal Effect.

As its name indicates, Pitch Correction is designed for those times when you need to get a dodgy vocal recording into shape. It works by tracking the pitch of a vocal and comparing it to the notes in a user-customisable scale.

Vocal Effect is the more creative mode – it enables you to create that ubiquitous Cher-style effect that's also being heavily used by Kanye West just at the moment. Two versions of it come included.

Commenting on the launch of the new product, Antares VP of Marketing Marco Alpert said: "We designed Auto-Tune EFX to be an affordable, easy-to-use tool that will allow pretty much anyone to use genuine Evo Voice Processing Technology".

Auto-Tune EFX is available now for Mac and PC and supports the VST and AU plug-in formats. It costs $129, and if you buy it from Guitar Center, currently comes with bundled with an iLok.